U.S. patent number 5,190,049 [Application Number 07/524,847] was granted by the patent office on 1993-03-02 for system for obtaining blood samples and submitting for testing of aids.
Invention is credited to David J. Bourgeois, Brenda Briggs, David Briggs, James W. Briggs, Kent Leger.
United States Patent |
5,190,049 |
Briggs , et al. |
* March 2, 1993 |
System for obtaining blood samples and submitting for testing of
AIDS
Abstract
A blood sampling kit having a plurality of glass vials for
receiving blood therein; a puncture pin for puncturing the skin of
the subject to be tested; an alcohol swab for cleansing the area
punctured, and an envelope for returning the specimen to a
laboratory. The specimen receiving kit further comprises a quantity
of clay like material for sealing the ends of the blood vials after
the blood sample has been received therein, so that blood is not
lost during transit. The system provides that the test subject
would receive the kit containing the above- referenced items to
prick one's finger, place blood into the plurality of
blood-receiving vials, close off the end of the vials with a
quantity of clay plug; return the vials to the kit, reseal the
blood it, place the kit in a sealable plastic bag container, note
one's name and address on the plastic bag and place the kit in an
envelope provided for returning to the laboratory for testing. Of
course, following testing, the subject is notified of the results
of the test through the mail. Therefore, the test procedures can be
undertaken through the mail without personal appearances at the
laboratory.
Inventors: |
Briggs; David (Metairie,
LA), Briggs; Brenda (Metairie, LA), Bourgeois; David
J. (Metairie, LA), Leger; Kent (New Orleans, LA),
Briggs; James W. (Metairie, LA) |
[*] Notice: |
The portion of the term of this patent
subsequent to October 18, 2005 has been disclaimed. |
Family
ID: |
26729983 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/524,847 |
Filed: |
June 21, 1990 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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258780 |
Oct 18, 1988 |
4979515 |
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51947 |
May 20, 1987 |
4777964 |
Oct 18, 1988 |
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815535 |
Jan 2, 1986 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
600/573 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B
5/150022 (20130101); A61B 5/150305 (20130101); A61B
5/150343 (20130101); A61B 5/150549 (20130101); A61B
5/150618 (20130101); A61B 5/15105 (20130101); A61B
5/15142 (20130101); G01N 2001/005 (20130101); A61B
5/150786 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61B
5/15 (20060101); G01N 1/00 (20060101); A61B
010/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;128/760,763,764,769,770
;206/569,572,443 ;422/61 ;604/256 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Pellegrino; Stephen C.
Assistant Examiner: Lewis; Ralph A.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Pravel, Gambrell, Hewitt, Kimball
& Krieger
Parent Case Text
This is a continuation of patent application Ser. No. 258,780,
filed Oct. 18, 1988, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,979,515, which was a
continuation of application Ser. No. 051,947, filed on May 20,
1987, which was issued as U.S. Pat. No. 4,777,964 on Oct. 18, 1988,
which was a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 815,535, filed Jan. 2,
1986, abandoned, by the same inventors.
Claims
What is claimed as invention is:
1. A method for having a person collect his own blood specimen and
submit the specimen for subsequent analysis for bacterial, viral or
chemical components in the blood specimen, the method comprising
the following steps:
a) providing a blood collection kit, the kit including at least
means for pricking one's skin for drawing blood, blood-receiving
means for receiving blood drawn therefrom, and sealing means
contained in the collection kit to seal the blood-receiving means
containing one's blood, at least the blood-receiving means being
removable from the rest of the kit;
b) pricking one's finger to draw blood;
c) introducing a quantity of one's blood into the blood-receiving
means in an amount sufficient to conduct blood tests on the
quantity of blood;
d) sealing the blood-receiving means containing the quantity of
blood;
e) returning the sealed blood-receiving means containing one'blood
to the rest of the blood collection kit; and
f) sealing the blood collection kit and forwarding the blood
collection kit containing the blood specimen to a laboratory for
analysis.
2. The method in claim 1, wherein the kit further provides a
container for placing the blood-receiving means therein for
forwarding to the laboratory.
3. The method in claim 1, wherein the container housing one's
sealed blood-receiving means is identified through one's name and
address identification tag.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to testing for foreign agents in
blood. More particularly, the system of the present invention
relates to an individual obtaining a blood sample and submitting
the sample to a testing laboratory for testing for any bacterial,
viral or chemical agent, including the AIDS virus in the blood.
2. General Background
One of the most serious health concerns of the present day is the
presence of the AIDS virus in the national population. The AIDS
virus is by all accounts a virus that, when a person becomes
infected with it, eventually meets death. The disease, although at
this time, being more prevalent in the gay community, has become a
general concern of the national population, and for the medical
community, poses a serious threat to the contamination of the
national blood supply.
It is essential, therefore, that there be a system whereby
individuals who are concerned as to whether or not they may have
contracted AIDS, or their blood system carries the AIDS virus, to
be provided with a convenient test for detecting same. There is an
ever-pressing need for any individuals who may have had personal
contact with a high risk group, that they can be informed, through
a convenient testing system, whether or not they have contracted
the AIDS virus. Of course, even for those who wish to donate blood,
or to satisfy their own personal concerns, may wish to submit to a
convenient test which would ease their concern as to whether or not
they have contracted AIDS. Although the discussion of the test
would concern itself primarily with the AIDS virus, it should be
made clear that the self-testing by the individual can be conducted
in order to ascertain whether or not there are other foreign agents
in the blood such as any bacterial, viral or chemical agents. The
process and apparatus of the present invention could be utilized
for a broad range of such tests, and is not solely limited to
ascertaining whether one's blood contains the AIDS virus.
There appears, at this time, to be no simple and reliable system
whereby an individual can undergo such a test, without having to
submit oneself to hospitalization or testing at a clinic. Test kits
of various types which have been developed for personal use, which
are readily available are well known. What follows are patents
found which contain pertinent art in this field:
______________________________________ Patent No.: Title of Patent;
Inventor; ______________________________________ 4,520,113
"Seroloagical Detection Gallo, et al Of Antibodies To HTLV- III I
Sera Of Patients With AIDS And Pre-AIDS Conditions" 4,382,062 "Test
Agent For The Kohl Detection Of Coupling Compounds, And A Process
For Its Preparation" 4,365,970 "Specimen Test Slide Lawrence, et al
And Method For Testing Occult Blood" 4,329,317 "Method Of
Stabilizing Detweiler, et al A Specimen Slide For Occult Blood
Testing" 4,240,547 "Specimen Mailer" Taylor 4,122,947 "Pre-Packaged
Patient Falla Identification Kit" 3,917,456 "Alcohol Breath
Eckstein, et al Testing Kit" 3,272,319 "Immunological Test Brewer
Kit" 3,203,540 "Test Kit" Kalt, et al.
______________________________________
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The present invention provides a system for whomever wishes to
ascertain whether or not he is carrying the AIDS virus, to perform
a blood sampling and to forward the sample to a lab for further
testing. This test kit and its collection methodology can collect
and be used to submit blood samples for any of many bacterial,
viral or chemical components. What is provided is a blood sampling
kit having a plurality of glass vials for receiving blood therein;
a puncture pin for puncturing the skin of the subject to be tested;
an alcohol swab for cleansing the area punctured, and an envelope
for returning the specimen to a laboratory. The specimen receiving
kit further comprises a quantity of clay like material for sealing
the ends of the blood vials after the blood sample has been
received therein, so that blood is not lost during transit. The
system provides that the test subject would receive the kit
containing the above-referenced items to prick one's finger, place
blood into the plurality of blood-receiving vials, close off the
end of the vials with a quantity of clay plug; return the vials to
the kit, reseal the blood it, place the kit in a sealable plastic
bag container, note one's name and address on the plastic bag and
place the kit in an envelope provided for returning to the
laboratory for testing. Of course, following testing, the subject
is notified of the results of the test through the mail. Therefore,
the test procedures can be undertaken through the mail without
personal appearances at the lab.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a
method for a test subject to obtain blood and to have the blood
tested for the AIDS virus;
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a test
system whereby the subject can return vials of blood sealed in
containers taken from himself, have the blood undergo a lab
analysis, and the results returned to him all without his leaving
the confines of his home;
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a
blood sampling system for AIDS whereby the system enables the
subject to have a quantity of blood to be tested, the quantity of
blood forwarded by the subject in a sealed package for receiving
the results after testing; and
It is still a further principal object of the present invention to
provide a system whereby an individual may obtain blood samples in
privacy, submit the samples to a lab for analysis, so that the
analysis may include analysis for any bacterial, viral or chemical
components in the blood.
These and other objects of this invention will be readily apparent
to those skilled in the art from the detailed description and
claims which follow.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For a further understanding of the nature and objects of the
present invention, reference should be had to the following
detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, in which like parts are given like reference numerals,
and wherein:
FIGS. 1A through 1C, illustrate the various components contained in
the blood sampling kit for AIDS;
FIG. 2 is an overall perspective view of the envelope for returning
the sample blood in the kit as seen in FIGS. 1A through 1C;
FIGS. 3A through 3D are the schematic steps illustrating the
obtaining and placing of blood into blood-receiving vials of the
kit;
FIG. 4 is an illustration of a sealed blood vial containing the
blood of the subject for testing;
FIG. 5 is a view of the sealed blood vial containing blood being
returned into the kit for forwarding to the laboratory;
FIG. 6 is a partial view of the kit being sealed for returning to
the laboratory for testing; and
FIG. 7 is a front view of the kit that is placed in the envelope as
illustrated in FIG. 2 and further illustrating the plastic bag
container of the pocket for the test to be conducted.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The preferred embodiment of the system of the present invention is
illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 7 as a series of components and
steps involved in the system. The overall system involves an
individual or layman subject obtaining a kit known in the market as
the "The Home Aids Test Kit", and obtaining a sample of blood for
forwarding to a laboratory for testing. FIGS. 1A through 1C
illustrates the components of the kit itself, the kit being
designated by the numeral 10. What is provided is a base member 12
which could be thickened rectangular portion of cardboard or the
like material having a backing 16, and a front-flap cover 18 as
seen in FIG. 1A. Base member 12 further comprises an elongated
blood vial containing pocket 14 which actually comprises a section
of the base member 12 cut out so that the backing 16 serves as the
floor portion for the vial containing portion 14. As illustrated in
FIG. 1A the vial containing portion 14 contains a sample blood vial
18 which, in the preferred embodiment is simply a glass tube having
a hollow bore therethrough for blood being contained therein for
testing. Base member 12 further comprises a circular cutaway
section 20 housing a quantity of clay or putty 22 or the like
substance, the function of which shall be illustrated further. As
purchased, the flat member 18 is normally in the down position as
seen in FIG. 7 with a plurality of three (3) to four (4) blood
vials 18 contained in blood vial containing portion 14 and the
quantity of clay 22 contained in the clay containing portion 20.
There is further provided in the kit an alcohol swab 24 which is
simply a quantity of cotton or the like soaked in alcohol for
cleaning any portion of the skin that must be utilized in the
testing. Further, there is provided a finger-pricking element 26
which includes a body portion 27 and cap 28 with a needle 29 as
seen in phantom view stuck into the cap portion 28 so that no
inadvertent pricking will take place.
Turning now to the actual blood sampling that is to be performed,
reference is made to FIGS. 3A through 3D, and FIG. 4 through FIG.
6. After one has received the kit, as illustrated in FIGS. 1A
through 1C and 7, the flat member is placed on the open position
which would reveal the blood vials and clay member 22. Alcohol swab
24 is then utilized to clean the portion of the skin, usually the
first digit of the forth finger, which must be pricked to receive
blood. Following the cleaning with alcohol swab 24, the cap portion
28 of the finger pricking member 26 is removed, and needle 29 is
jabbed quickly into the skin to break the dermis layer and obtain a
quantity or drop of blood 31 on the end of the finger, as seen in
FIGS. 3A and 3B. Following the pricking of the finger, a blood vial
18 is then placed upon the spot of blood 31 and blood runs into the
internal bore 19 of blood vial 18 to substantially fill it with
blood. Following the placing of blood into the blood vial 18, as
seen in FIG. 3C, the end of the blood vial is then pushed into the
quantity of clay 22 so that a portion of the clay remains in the
bore 19 of blood vial 18 to seal its ends so that blood cannot be
released therefrom. Following that procedure, the second end
portion 23 of blood vial 18 is sealed in clay portion 22 so that
both end portions 21 and 23 contain a portion of clay or putty 22
therein as seen in FIG. 4. Therefore, the blood 13 contained in
vial 18 is secured therein until the actual testing.
Blood is received into all three (3) or four (4) blood vials and
each sealed with clay 22 at the end portions so that the laboratory
is able to receive a reasonable quantity of blood. Utilizing each
blood vial, the sealed vials 18 are then replaced back into blood
vial chamber 14 as seen being done in FIG. 5. Following that step,
the top flat member 18 is then secured in the down position and
sealed with a quantity of sealing tape 25 so that the blood vials
containing the subject's blood are now ready for shipment to the
laboratory. As seen in FIG. 7, the sealed kit is placed in plastic
bag container 129; and the patient's name and address placed on
identification label 27. The kit in the plastic bag 129 is then
placed into envelope 30 as seen in FIG. 2, and envelope 30 is
sealed and forwarded to the laboratory. Following the testing
procedures by the laboratory, the test results are then returned to
the sender through the mail, and the subject is then notified as to
whether or not his blood does in fact contain the AIDS virus.
It is foreseen that in the use of test, that this test could be
sold over the counter and could be done quite efficiently and
easily at one's home. "The Home Aids Test Kit" is a unique system
in which, due to personal misgivings about going to a hospital or
clinic, a concerned subject may ascertain quite easily whether or
not his blood does in fact contain the AIDS virus. This logic also
extends to submissions of blood samples for the analysis of any and
many other viral, bacterial or chemical testing.
Because many varying and different embodiments may be made within
the scope of the inventive concept herein taught, and because many
modifications may be made in the embodiments herein detailed in
accordance with the descriptive requirement of the law, it is to be
understood that the details herein are to be interpreted as
illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
* * * * *